Chelsea are actively seeking solutions at center back in the market having lost two first-team CBs in Christensen and Rudiger to free transfers.
The imminent arrival of Kalidou Koulibaly is great news for the blues but represents only the second established center-back in the squad alongside Thiago Silva, with Trevoh Chalobah, young Levi Colwill, and Malang Sarr likely vying for a squad spot as backup options.
Over the past few weeks, the Blues have held a firm interest in Nathan Ake, and talks were at an advanced stage, some reports suggesting Chelsea had already agreed personal terms with the Dutchman, with only an agreement on a transfer fee being the stumbling block to the deal. There was a widespread belief that Chelsea and Manchester City would eventually find common ground on a fee and make the deal happen.
However, surprisingly, reports from earlier today suggest that the London side did not meet the valuation set by Man City and now the club and player have mutually decided to put this saga behind them and Ake will continue as a Cityzen.
This still leaves the squad hole that Chelsea needs to fill in the center of their defense and the name that’s emerged strongly over the past few days is Presnel Kimpembe of PSG.
🚨 Chelsea in talks with Paris Saint-Germain to sign Presnel Kimpembe. #PSG open to 26yo’s exit if valuation met - not happened yet but conversations ongoing. France int’l a key #CFC target at left centre-back. Juventus also in contact @TheAthleticUK #Juve https://t.co/5sf488Awxm
— David Ornstein (@David_Ornstein) July 13, 2022
Who is Presnel Kimpembe?
Presnel Kimpembe is a 26-year-old France International who plays center-back for Paris Saint-Germain. He is left-footed and came through the PSG academy before establishing himself as an important member of the first team.
Kimpembe has played 152 times for the senior team at PSG and was part of the starting XI in a Champions League final defeat to Bayern Munich in the COVID-affected 2019-2020 season. He made his international senior debut for France in 2018 and has won 28 caps for the national team since then. He was a part of the team that won the World Cup in 2018.